ALKALOID VS Switch – Break Through (Chapters 1-10)
Chapter Index
Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 - Ch5 - Ch6 - Ch7 - Ch8 - Ch9 - Ch10
Chapter 1
That night.
…
(“Not the time to say something so naive”…?)
(… Natsume-kun, I don’t understand.)
(Is it really for Switch’s sake that we have to beat ALKALOID at all costs?)
(MM is an event with worldwide influence.)
(If we can put on a good show in such a large-scale setting, that will naturally earn recognition for Switch from all over the world.)
(That way, we might even capture the attention of notable overseas producers and find new work as a result.)
(That logic checks out to me. I’m sure that most other units are aiming for a similar goal.)
(But, what reason do we have to act on the same principle?)
(Our popularity is not in decline, and we don’t have to fear for our future as idols.)
(We’ve gotten where we are now by sticking to our own ways, haven’t we?)
(I don’t see any need to chase an immediate victory, or to worry about our future.)
(… But, suddenly, Natsume-kun became fixated on winning.)
(He’s dead set on demonstrating Switch’s prowess through a glorious victory.)
(That was never supposed to be what we wanted out of this…)
… I shouldn’t be doing this. Being so negative will only make my fortune all the worse.
What I have to think about right now is how to even proceed from here.
In any case, with Natsume-kun in this mood, I don’t think he will listen to me regardless of what I say to him.
But, given Natsume-kun’s situation, I don’t know how Sora-kun is going to feel about deciding how to move forward…
I have to be the one to do something about it.
Hah …
Oh, this isn’t good. If I let myself sigh, I’m going to lose not just fortune, but also happiness…
? Wait, that wasn’t me, was it?
Hah…
Dammit! I know I should put this down, but my fingers keep swiping on their own!
I thought that people would be happy and have words of praise for us, and instead I see them disparaging and badmouthing us…
My feelings are all over the place!
Ugh… I can empathize with their feelings so much it hurts, but what can I even do…?
Oh, so it’s you out here, Shiratori-kun.
Hyah!? Ow, ow, my phone…!
Oh, sorry… I didn’t mean to startle you. It’s me, Tsumugi Aoba.
Oh, hi, Aoba-senpai… I just wasn’t expecting someone to call out to me at this time, sorry.
Ahaha. It’s getting late, isn’t it.
You must be tired after the show, right? Don’t you want to rest at the Star House?
Umm… It’s just, I kinda wanted to be alone for a bit.
… I didn’t feel great staying around them.
…
Wait, sorry! I’m not saying I had a fight with them, or anything! I mean, I’m the one that’s in the wrong here!
We don’t see eye to eye on everything, like how excited we are for the show, but that’s not the problem…
… I can see that they’re being considerate towards me. They’re a lot more mature than me.
… You’re very kind, aren’t you.
Huh? I’d say it’s them who are the kind ones…
You left out of consideration for them, didn’t you? So, I think you are plenty kind yourself, Shiratori-kun.
Ugh, you’re the kind one for telling me that, Aoba-senpaiii…
… Your turmoil is because of the change of plans, isn’t it?
I guess it’s that easy to tell…
Even I know that I have to let it go.
This isn’t the first time we’ve had to compete and end up winning or losing in the end, so I get that it might be weird that I suddenly started caring now.
But nothing like our jobs is at stake this time, and we’re being forced to go against you guys for no reason…
When I start going through social media, and I imagine what it’d be like to be in the fans’ position… I end up thinking the same thing without even trying to.
“Do we really have no choice but to fight?”
Shiratori-kun…
Chapter 2
I mean, I get the appeal of watching idols clash as rivals and improve through competition. I like that sort of thing too.
But, having to be in that position myself… It’s really stressing me out.
I just keep wishing we didn’t have to worry about winning or being compared.
Wishing that there was some way for all fans and idols to be happy…
…!
Oh, I understand.
I absolutely believe that if there is a way to make everyone happy, that’s the best way of going about things.
(… That’s right. That’s the kind of unit Switch is.)
(If there’s anyone that will stop at nothing to achieve an outcome in which no one has to be sad, that’s Switch. Right…?)
No matter how rugged that path is, how difficult it may be to realize… we have to strive for that outcome.
Ahaha. Thank you for saying that, Aoba-senpai.
But, the truth is that it is difficult. Continuing to wish for something that’s not going to come true is just a childish whim.
So, I have to compromise. Same as when ALKALOID was on the line, we need to get this done no matter what.
We have to survive by any means, regardless of our opponent’s condition…
… But you still haven’t found it in yourself to compromise.
Even if you understand in logical terms, you haven’t come to terms with it emotionally, right?
Is that because this is so important to you that you can’t settle on a hasty conclusion?
I mean…
… But, things can’t go on like this. I have to stop roping everyone into my own selfish—
What’s so wrong with being selfish?
Clashing with all our might… If you only look at the good sides of MM, you could see it as a dream-like festival held to crown the best idols in the world.
But there is another side to it. At the feet of the resplendent winners will lie the contenders that have been kicked down to get there.
Idols that have been crushed, and numerous fans whose feelings never came through.
Conflict has always been that way, and it will stay that way forever. One party comes out as the winner, and the other is the loser.
… And there must also be those that shed tears in silence, unable to accept that outcome.
I don’t want to turn a blind eye to them, pretending they don’t exist and proclaiming a happy ending.
That doesn’t mean I’m against aiming for victory. It’s good to have lofty ambitions, and we ourselves would also like to win if it’s at all possible for us.
I just think that it would be a mistake to become hung up on victory to the point of losing sight of what is important.
There has to be a way of achieving victory that is suited to us…
…
I wasn’t expecting to hear that.
Why do you say that…?
I’d thought that you were more like a grown-up…
… Is that so?
Hehe. I’m not so sure about that, really. At this moment, when I’m incapable of accepting reality, I really feel like a child.
But I think that’s a good thing, actually.
When I picture an adult that is aware of reality and can’t talk about their dreams anymore, it seems like a sad way to live.
I know that this world is full of miraculous magic and sparkling things brimming with hope.
… And that’s why I don’t want to discard them. I don’t want to push them to the side.
When things are scattered away in this absurd, hopeless reality…
Switch will treasure those things all the more, and gather them in our hands. That is who we are.
So I think it’s perfectly okay for you to be more selfish, Shiratori-kun. You don’t have to give up just because the rest of the world, or reality itself, is this way.
Because if you won’t let it go despite it weighing on you, I think it must be something priceless to you.
Aoba-senpai…
Oh, this is just my own opinion, though! I don’t mean to say that you have to do this or that!
You don’t need to have an answer right away. You should think it through for as long as you need to.
No one will be rushing you.
… Thank you.
(Aoba-senpai said the same thing as everyone else…)
(That there’s no need to hurry, that they’ll wait as long as it takes. He’s fine with my ruminations…)
(Everyone has so much patience for me, honestly.)
… I’m glad we had this talk.
I think I’m starting to figure out what I’ve got to do.
Regardless of how things end up, let’s go up against each other in our own respective ways in the final round.
We can face this as ALKALOID’s Aira Shiratori and Switch’s Tsumugi Aoba.
Chapter 3
The following afternoon, in the shared area.
… It’s very quiet in here, isn’t it?
Since the start of MM, everyone else must be busy with their activities outside.
Though some people have passed by the Megasphere, they generally head back to land almost immediately.
Everyone’s staying in hotels on land, too. I guess most people would rather stay at a local hotel.
What should we do today? It should be possible to have us dropped off in Egypt at this time…
I don’t mind anything.
I don’t, either. What do you think, Aira-san?
Hmmm, I also don’t have a preference…
Let me go get a drink real quick, okay?
… Similarly to how he appeared during practice, Aira-san’s mind looks to be elsewhere…
Yet, he was still putting effort into practicing.
He actually looked quite motivated… but every so often, it seemed like he would start ruminating on something.
That sounds like he hasn’t come to terms with the situation yet.
He doesn’t seem to be in the best of states…
It hasn’t had a major impact yet, but Aira-san might not be in the right mental condition to exercise intense concentration.
In the worst of cases, it may impact the actual performance.
Most importantly, I don’t feel positive about letting this situation play out…
… If there’s anything we can do for Aira, I’d love nothing more than to do it…
But I get the impression that the cause for Aira’s troubles might lie with me. I’m not sure how much I can help if I am indeed the root cause…
Try not to get ahead of yourself, Hiiro-san.
The situation regarding Switch and the change of plans is not your fault.
That was a mutual decision between two parties. We agreed that this would be the best way to move forward so as to clear up the misunderstanding.
We’ve breached this topic before, but it bears repeating that competition is not an uncommon sight in this industry.
Television programs, livestreams, and even SS… they all utilize the premise of intense tournaments between idols.
This event is only one entry into an endless list, and we are likely to face a similar circumstance again in the future. There is nothing unique about this singular case.
What matters now is how Aira-san will overcome this trial—what compromise he will reach.
And the one thing we can do is to stay close and offer him our support until he reaches a satisfactory answer.
… You’re completely right. Thanks, Tatsumi-senpai.
It’s unfortunate to be confined to watching over him without intervening…
There is no guarantee that Aira-san will reach a conclusion from his ruminations. I can’t help but wish there was anything in our power to do…
… Hm. You are right about that.
Then, how about this?
Ah, the desert really is cold at this hour…
Compared to the daytime heat, the difference is literally night and daay. The driver was right to suggest that we dress warm.
It was very kind of them to drive us here on such short notice.
I considered driving myself, but I figured that it would be difficult for a layman to drive through the desert.
I thought I should do as Mayoi-san said and avoid trying new and unfamiliar things right before the final round.
Ahaha… In any case, since we’ve safely arrived at the pyramids, let’s take a look around…!
Yeah! I’ve been able to look at them distantly from the hotel, but now that I’m seeing them again, the sight of the pyramids in the evening has a different impression from before.
They have a much more mystical vibe than they do in the daytime, right?
The sky feels even more vast than usual. I can see why pyramids are known as places with spiritual energy.
… But why are we here?
We won’t be in the country for much longer.
Since this is a rare opportunity, I thought it would be nice to enjoy our stay in Egypt to the fullest.
I’ve heard that light shows are held here.
Unfortunately, the time of our stay didn’t coincide with them…
Hm… Some kind of event does seem to be taking place, though. It’s somewhat brighter over there.
You’re right. Why don’t we go take a look?
Hmm… Is it okay if I stay here a little longer?
Of course it’s okay. Hiiro-san?
I’ll also stay. I can’t leave Aira all by himself.
Then let’s go, Mayoi-san.
Of course. We’ll be right back.
Chapter 4
Hey, Hiro-kun, come over here.
Hm? Are you going to take a picture?
Might as well, right? I didn’t bring my selfie stick, so the angle’s gonna be a little tricky, though.
Hmm… Could you come a little closer to me?
Hm… Is this okay?
Yeah, perfect!
You’ve really gotten a lot more used to having pictures taken since we started streaming at the Megasphere.
You can handle shoots without issue, and you don’t have trouble doing what’s asked of you.
Is that so? I wasn’t aware of that myself…
But if that’s the case, it’s got to be thanks to you.
I didn’t know much about streaming at first, either, but I learned everything I know now from you.
Hiro-kun, you’re exaggerating… I didn’t teach you anything that important.
That’s not true. Whether it’s filming or streaming, you always approach it with your own unique sensibility.
Even now, when you told me what would be better for the picture.
You’ve always got my back, not just with streaming… but you were also the one that taught me what idols are.
That’s just ‘cause you were clueless about the world in general when we met…
Things were really rough back then. Your behavior was its own issue, but we were also on the verge of getting laid off.
We had to fight tooth and nail just to keep our jobs… you didn’t really seem that tense about it to me, though.
Haha, how nostalgic. I still remember the time when I met all of you like it was yesterday.
To think that we used to be known as “underachievers”, and now we’re performing for a global audience. Isn’t that crazy?
It still doesn’t feel real, to think that this could happen to me.
But I guess it is real. We’ve gotten through SS and the Mega Stream, and now we’re competing in an international event.
This is the kind of thing I used to dream of.
It’s not a dream, though. There’s no doubt that this is real life.
Yeah, I know that.
… Hiro-kun, I’m sorry for making you worry about me.
We came all the way here just for me, right?
I know I’ve been in the clouds. I’m sorry if that scared you.
You don’t have to apologize. That’s what teammates are for.
I can’t think so highly of myself so as to claim that I perfectly understand how you feel.
But even then, I think I understand what’s troubling you, and how inalienable that is to you.
… Switch’s performance was so amazing.
It wasn’t just flashy effects. They designed their entire performance around them… Every movement was carefully planned out, even down to their fingertips.
You could feel their passion for their craft. As a fan, I would’ve been on cloud nine over that show.
But I’m not part of the audience enjoying the performance; I’m part of the rival team, ALKALOID.
So, I have to put on a show that can stand a chance against theirs.
I have to make the audience think ALKALOID did better than Switch.
Because that's what one-on-one competitions are like. It doesn't matter how you put it: there's no changing the fact that we’re being judged against each other.
… When I looked at social media after the second round, I got to see what people thought of the show.
A lot of them thought it was great, and said they were excited for the next one…
But some of them were also saying really horrible things.
“They’re forgetting their place”, “they need to get with the times”, “they’re just pandering to their fans”, “what’s so good about them, anyways”.
They’re free to think and say whatever they want, so I can’t do anything about it.
… But, seeing those opinions coming from our fans…
It’s been making me think… it might’ve been better if we hadn’t had a genuine competition with Switch at all.
Seeing our supportive fans say such awful things about Switch is really upsetting…
And I feel terrible about myself, being the reason they’re even saying them.
…
I know I’m late to this. I know this isn’t our first competition.
But when our job was on the line, I didn’t even have the luxury of thinking about the losers.
I know it’s not fair of me to say this stuff only now that I’m in a more stable position.
But I just can’t stop thinking about it.
As idols, we all just want to shine. How many more times in the future are we going to face off and be judged against each other?
… Facing off… I believe that there’s a view you can only see when idols go all out against each other.
You know that, too… and even still, you feel like it would be better if we could lift each other up instead of having to fight.
That’s how it was early on, in our joint performance with Switch. I think that’s certainly one way to make a wonderful show happen.
Yeah. I get that competitions are exciting, and that the fans enjoy them.
I watch audition shows and tournaments, too. I actually think they’re a lot of fun… and SS was a stage I always dreamed of stepping onto.
I’d always get sad when my oshi didn’t make the lineup, or when they’d get eliminated, and I’d have a hard time accepting it.
But that’s just how it is. You can’t just pick out the stuff you like and conveniently ignore everything else.
Now that I’m in this industry, I can’t keep turning my eyes away from those things…
I guess I have no choice but to keep clashing with other idols for the rest of my life.
… I can’t stop acting so selfishly.
This is all just an issue with my feelings. It’s fine if it sounds crazy to you.
I actually feel better just from telling you about it, so… thanks, Hiro-kun.
… Do you really?
What…?
I told you before, I understand how you feel.
Judging and comparing each other might be our instinct as animals. But we’re not wild beasts, we’re human beings.
I don’t think it’s always necessary to clash with each other, or to decide who’s better.
I don’t know about that… We can feel that way if we want, but the big shots of the industry might still come up with those plans.
We can’t exactly go up to them and tell them to stop hosting competitive events, right? We have no choice but to…
Then, we could get rid of the need for competition.
Ummm… What are we even talking about anymore?
It’s simple, Aira.
Let’s destroy the idol industry—together.
Chapter 5
What do you mean, “destroy the idol industry”!?
Hiro-kun, should I be scared!?
… Hehe. With my wording, I can see how you’d misunderstand.
What are you laughing for!? If you know I’m going to get the wrong idea, how about you start choosing your words better!?
Sorry. I don’t actually want to destroy the industry.
Idols are something priceless and unforgettable that shines with infinite brilliance. I know that well by now.
What I meant by “destroying” was that I want to change the current state of the idol industry.
To change its current state…?
As top idols reigning over the industry, we, ALKALOID, will get rid of any and all projects that involve comparisons.
Then, we can make it so the industry is full of projects like the fun programs you imagine, and events where idols join forces and uplift each other.
That way, there won’t be any more cases in which idols are forced into a rivalry, right?
We, ALKALOID, will lead the industry in that direction.
What do you think about moving forward with that goal in mind…?
What do I think, huh…
If we lived in a world like that, I might not have problems like this current one….
But, do you get what you’re saying?
To be able to do that, we would have to become top idols—
We would have to beat not just Switch, but the likes of ES’ Big 3 and Mellow Dear Us!
That’s just too unrealistic! We have no shot!
I don’t think it’s hopeless.
We’ve faced countless hardships and adversities before, and we’ve overcome every last one of them. All together, as ALKALOID.
So, I’m absolutely positive. If we’re together, we can make it happen.
Because idols have the power to make dreams come true.
Well, Tattsun-senpai and Mayo-san are both amazing people, and you’re a lot more dependable now than you were back then…
And we have you, too. This time, your ideas were what gave us a fighting chance.
No, I’m not really contributing that much…
Hm… Then, that means you’ve still got a hidden strength that hasn’t come to light?
I don’t mean it like that! Don’t twist my words!
Why do you always interpret everything in whatever way is convenient for you? Have you ever even considered the possibility that things might not go well?
Well, I believe in my friends above all else.
It’s not like I don’t take the possibility of failure into account, though. I know the path ahead will be difficult.
But I still think that path has value. That’s my conclusion.
…
It makes me so, so happy to hear you say that. Knowing that you have so much faith in us.
But nothing changes the fact that I…
…
If that still doesn’t put you at ease, on our next show, let’s turn every last person in the audience into our fans.
Let’s captivate the audience with a show straight out of a fantasy… to the point that regardless of the outcome, they’ll be able to say they’re glad they came to see us.
That way, there won’t be any sad fans that you need to worry about, right?
Don’t you think that’s going to be insanely hard…? That’s a whole new problem…
And, wait, that does nothing about my issue with judging idols against each other!?
What happened to the plan you were just talking about…? That objective is just not rooted in reality at all!
… Hmm, this is difficult.
If I were smarter, I might've been able to come up with decent ideas…
But with the way I am now, I’ve got nothing else… I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help.
Geez…
But… thanks, Hiro-kun.
I’ve been doing nothing but whining and moping…
And yet you came up with so many ways to help with my problem.
They were all fantastical things that would be really difficult to make true… but I feel like that’s the point of having dreams and ideals at all.
Like how kids want to be astronauts, or pilots… Most of them don’t know about the path they’d have to take to get there.
Maybe I should start like you, by talking about dreams with a pure wish in my heart that it would be nice if they happened.
Like ALKALOID becoming top idols and changing the industry, maybe…
Tattsun-senpai, Mayo-san, you and me, going on national tours every year… so no one can go a single day without seeing our faces.
Living like that as a top idol would be so great…
Yeah. I’m sure that we’ve got a lot of fun experiences ahead of us.
… But, should I really be coming up with all these crazy ideas in the position I’m in right now!? We don’t even know if we can beat Switch!
We don’t quite have the upper ground, but we haven’t lost yet.
It’s okay, Aira. We’re no longer underachievers that have to fear for our position as idols.
We’ve grown into proper idols, with fans that cheer us on, waiting to see us shine on stage.
No one will chastise you for pursuing a dream-like future. There’s no need to hold back—you can be as selfish as you want.
Be selfish…
… You’re not really in any position to say that. I guess you can spout just about anything with full confidence, can’t you.
Mhm. So, I’d like you to keep lending me your strength.
The reason I can say this is because I’ve got teammates fighting with me by my side.
Aira, you are the wings that let ALKALOID fly. If you cower in fear at the vast sky, and find yourself unable to spread those wings…
We will do away with that fear for you, and I will light the path for you so that you can fly anywhere you want.
So, let’s strive towards that goal together—to become top idols.
Not even the sky is the limit for you, huh.
But that’s just part of what makes you Hiro-kun… ♪
(In the end, the fact that someone’s going to lose hasn’t changed.)
(I’m still not happy about it, but as it stands, I’m weighing ALKALOID down.)
(Even if it’s difficult, and painful, if it’s to reach the destination that Hiro-kun is envisioning in his dream…)
(I have to do my part, and change.)
(Just like how Hiro-kun had faith in me… I’ll do what I can for my precious friends.)
(What I can do as an idol lover who has spent my whole life watching idols…)
(What makes idols shine, what’s so wonderful about them… I should know that better than anyone.)
(If I can understand that myself, and I’m able to explain it to people like Hiro-kun…)
(Maybe, I could figure out how to express our charm as ALKALOID so that everyone can see it—)
Chapter 6
Previously, that morning.
♪~♪~♪
(Changing the stage effects here was indeed the right choicE. This helps Sora’s movements stand ouT.)
(Sora was thrown off by the sudden alteratioN, and yeT, the results speak for themselveS.)
(Looks like we will see this final round through without issuE.)
Sorry, Shisho~. Sora knows he was a little late there…
It’s alrighT. I trust that you’ll have polished it to perfection by the time of the show.
HaHa~♪ Of course! Sora will master this in due time, just you wait~!
Hehe. You are such a good boY ♪
Unlike a certain four-eyeS… I wonder where he might be dawdling right noW.
He wasn’t in the room when Sora woke up… Senpai must’ve gotten up super early.
And yeT, he hasn’t shown up to our practicE. I definitely told him that we would start practice early in the morninG, but maybe he didn’t even listeN.
Sora bets he was training by himself and lost track of time! He must be doing a lap around the Megasphere right now!
That is still senseless if truE, and it doesn’t change the fact that he didn’t come to practicE.
Knowing Senpai, I suppose this sort of mishap is to be expected from hiM. What on Earth could he be doinG, when we have so little time left before the final rounD…
Sorry for making you wait.
Speak of the deviL.
Aren’t you fashionably latE. Would you mind telling us what caused the delaY?
Ahaha, I’m sorry again. I went on a bit of a stroll… Since the final round is drawing closer, I wanted to take a look at the Sphere Stage.
I got to talk with the staff again, too, though it was just a casual conversation.
The Sphere Stage is equipped with state of the art technology, so I’m wondering if we could utilize that in the staging we’re planning now to make it even better.
HiHi~! Senpai’s also full of enthusiasm~!
Hmm… That changes nothing about the fact that you are latE.
WelL, knowing the reasoN, I will choose to overlook your tardiness this oncE.
Now that the three of us are herE, let’s start from the beginning all togetheR.
Before that, if it’s okay…
I have something I want to ask. It’s about Switch’s outlook towards MM.
… AlrighT. There have been unexpected complications along the waY, so it makes sense to restate our positioN.
Natsume-kun, what you want is for Switch to strive towards victory, isn’t it?
Do I really need to say iT? I’ve told you so many times alreadY.
Of course that is a yeS. Even as the Megasphere has made its appearance and Japanese idols are expanding out into the rest of the worlD, Switch hasn’t promoted itself enougH.
With you no longer in the position of vice presidenT, this should be the perfect time for us to do thaT.
This is an important moment in Switch’s historY. If we take a stumble noW, we will gradually be overshadowed by other unitS.
For the sake of renewing the public opinion of Switch, I would like to avoid defeat on this matcH.
In facT, let’s be more confidenT… I want us to be crowned as the winners of MM.
I see… Sora-kun, what do you think?
Sora’s thoughts?
Of course. This conversation concerns the future of Switch, so I would like to have your opinion.
Sora thinks that…
I would be surprised if Sora didn’t feel the same waY.
When we ended our partnership with ALKALOID, Sora instantly switched gears and accepted the new circumstanceS.
Natsume-kun, I want to hear Sora-kun’s answer.
…
Sora agrees with Shisho~!
We don’t get a lot of opportunities to face off against other units, right~? Sora wants to make the most of this one, and fight with all our might to get the win!
If we keep on winning, we can do a lot more shows, and that means we can teach so many more people how awesome Switch is!
So, Sora will also strive for victory!
… Thank you for answering, Sora-kun.
I’m glad to know how the two of you feel. Then, I will also dedicate all my efforts to achieving victory for Switch.
… There was no need to repeat thaT.
Now, Natsume-kun, there is one more thing I’d like to ask.
For our performance of the assigned song “E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.” on the final round… Could you leave the staging decisions to me?
Asking this out of the bluE? Could you explain whY?
I always intended to ask for your input regarding the staging either waY.
It’s okay, I understand that. This is just… I guess I could call it my way of making amends.
For souring the mood after the second round, that is.
I haven’t stopped thinking about how upset I made you, all without meaning to…
So I thought of what I could do for both of you to make up for it.
That was when I had the idea to help with the staging.
Since we always rely on you for it, I thought that it might give fans a unique impression if I took it upon myself.
Could that be why you went to the Sphere Stage early in the morning?
…
Of course, if you don’t think it’s a good idea, I won’t press on it.
In the end, this is just my own selfish desire to take even a small weight off your shoulders.
… AlrighT. The staging for the assigned song will be in your handS, theN.
Having said thaT, it is nearly entirely set in stonE. I don’t imagine you intend to do it over from scratch, thougH.
If there is anything you’d like to consult with me abouT, then feel free tO—herE.
Thank you, Natsume-kun!
Don’t worry, I don’t plan on making any big changes.
TheN, I’d like to do a run-through of the set list for the final rounD.
Now that you’ve had a quick looK, I’d like you to get into positioN. Make up for your tardiness with a good showinG, will yoU?
… Of course.
Chapter 7
(Taking a bath after practice is pure bliss. The water was so nice~♪)
(… It would’ve been even better if Shisho~ and Senpai had come…)
(But they both had somewhere to be. What a shame~)
(Also, it looked like both of them had nothing but MM on their minds.)
(Overworking yourself isn’t good… but they must want to win that badly.)
(And that’s… a good thing, right?)
Oh, I see that you’re back, Sora-kun.
HaHa~ welcome back, Senpai!
Aren’t you going to the public bath yet?
About that… I’d like to revise some aspects of the staging for the assigned song first…
I think I’ll head over there once I’ve perused it a little more.
Is there a lot that needs to be changed?
No, that’s not the issue. Sorry if that scared you.
I intend to leave most of it as it already is, like Natsume-kun said.
The ideas he has already implemented are amazing as is, so I only plan on making minor revisions.
Since he entrusted me with this, I want to do my part properly and deliver a good result.
HiHi~♪ With you and Shisho~ so pumped up, Sora can’t fall behind!
… Huh? Are the effects here different than they were before?
They were flashy and sparkly from the start, but they make us stand out more now…
This part…
…
… But our choreography is still the same, so Sora thinks it’s okay!
Sorry if what Sora said was a little strange, Senpai.
Oh, it’s alright. I’m sorry for the inconvenience myself.
(… These changes must not have been Senpai’s doing…)
(Because this part is from the original printing, while the ones that Senpai wants to change are the ones with notes on them.)
(Which means…)
On a second look, it’s a little different than the last time Sora looked at this~
These changes were made by Shisho~, right?
… Yes. I presume the last time you saw this was back when we were having joint practice sessions. I’ve been practicing with that version in mind, too, so I understand if it’s confusing.
I think Natsume-kun made these changes when we ended our collaboration.
… Sora-kun, do you have any feedback on this outline?
Hmm…?
It’s great! Shisho~ always comes up with the most amazing stage effects, and Sora is happy that his ideas were incorporated~♪
… Ahaha. You could depend on Natsume-kun for anything.
HuHu/♪ In this part and that part, our fans won’t be able to tear their eyes away from us/
… It’s just that, if we go with this, ALKALOID’s parts might look a little empty~?
…!
I had the same impression as you.
When I asked the staff, I heard that ALKALOID didn’t make any particular requests regarding stage effects.
I figure that if we make this request, the actual show will follow this outline.
…
What’s wrong, Sora-kun?
It’s nothing important~
Sora just had the thought that this feels a little different to the performances Shisho~ usually plans.
Sora-kun…
This performance is meant to give a strong impression of Switch, for us to win.
Because it’s important that we win this. So, Sora understands why Shisho~ made the changes he did.
This outline gives Sora the impression that Shisho~ is taking a lot of precautions against ALKALOID.
Sora can understand his desire to win, and his anxiety about losing.
… Is that his color in your eyes?
? No, Sora still can’t see colors like before~
… I wonder what Natsume-kun is thinking. I guess the only way of knowing would be to hear it from him.
All we can do now is speculate about how he feels.
… Was Sora wrong?
No, I don’t think so.
Actually, it made me happy to see another reminder of how much you’ve grown ♪
… It’s only that Natsume-kun’s feelings don’t change my course of action.
Either way, I will work hard to achieve the victory that you two are looking for.
Let’s have a magical show that will put a smile on the faces of everyone looking at us, as Switch would do.
Right…! Sora agrees completely~♪
Hehe. Thank you, Sora-kun.
…
(There is no “next time”… We have to win now or there is no point to it, right, Natsume-kun?)
(I’m not interested in the results to that extent, but I can still understand Natsume-kun and Sora-kun’s feelings.)
(… But, most importantly, I want to preserve what makes us Switch.)
(I don’t believe that this is a situation where choosing one over the other is obligatory, or that it would be impossible to move forward without letting one of them go.)
(So, I—)
Chapter 8
A few days later, on the day of the final round.
(Yawn)
Ugh… I went to bed early yesterday, so why…
Hehe, that was a big yawn.
Uwah, Aoba-senpai! Please excuse me! I know I shouldn’t be spacing out right before the show…
It’s alright. You shouldn’t let it get the better of you.
Thing is, I was spacing out because I’m nervous. I’ve got to pull myself together. Maybe I should ask Hiro-kun to hit me again…
Then, I take it that you’ve found your answer?
My answer… Can I really call it that? It’s not too defined yet…
But I think I’ve figured out what I have to do, in my own way.
If it were up to me, I wouldn’t want to compete or be compared, but I know I’ll run into those situations whether I like it or not when this is the world we live in.
I can’t change that, no matter how much I want it to, so I have no choice but to compromise.
… But maybe, the reason I managed to get those unshakeable feelings in order is that I know where I want to go from here.
Where you want to go from here? What do you mean?
Even if it’s impossible for my dream to come true right now… one day, I’d like to live in a world in which everyone can smile.
No, we’ll be the ones to create that world. That’s more or less what I’m aiming for.
I figured that I have to change if I want to make that happen. I can’t stay this lame, whining and moping all the time…
I have to be a version of Aira Shiratori that can measure up to my teammates and fans’ expectations.
And that’s why—I’ll get ALKALOID the win today.
… It’s nice to see you so determined.
In the past, I think I would’ve chosen the same path as you.
In the past…?
Yes. Back then, I spent my day letting others depend on me, striving to meet their expectations.
That’s how I was able to reach a compromise between my own self and the reality I lived in. I protected myself with the notion that I was doing what someone else wanted from me.
I chose the answer that conformed to the people around me.
But things are different now… Or at least in Switch, that’s not the case.
I do have a desire to fulfill Natsume-kun’s wishes, but at the same time…
As a member of Switch, I also have the intention to follow my own wishes.
I don’t want to give that up.
… Hehe. Compared to you, Shiratori-kun, I might just be an endlessly selfish child ♪
Umm, by “your own wishes”, do you mean…
They’re still the same as what I told you that night.
Once we go on stage, put all of those feelings into the show and come at us with all you’ve got.
I will do the same and express my thoughts in my performance, as Tsumugi Aoba of Switch.
Regardless of how the results turn out, let’s give this match our all.
… Yeah!
“Thank you all for waiting! It’s finally time for the greatest battle on this Earth to begin!”
(Now that we’re on the last round, there’s no taking anything back… And I’ve done what I could do as myself.)
(Everything should be ready. All there’s left to do is to put on a performance that won’t bring shame to the path I’ve chosen.)
“The commanding, captivating ALKALOID will be facing off against Switch, who enchant their audiences with a spell of happiness!”
“It looks like both units are ready to come up on stage!”
“It’s time for these card soldiers and magicians to have one final, fantastic showdown!”
Chapter 9
“♪~♪~♪”
(Switch has even managed to surpass their performance in the second round. I wouldn’t expect less from them.)
(I was already aware that Switch utilized captivating stage effects as an important asset…)
(But it’s only a complement to their incredible dancing and singing abilities. They don’t neglect their fundamentals, and they have a great understanding of their own unique strengths.)
(I don’t imagine that any unit in all of ES could easily bring them down. To be facing such an opponent in the very first round…)
“♪~♪~♪”
(Oh, Mayoi-san is giving me a look of caution.)
(I haven’t been enraptured by their performance. There is no need to worry… ♪)
(Quite the opposite, in fact. If this hand we’ve been dealt is the trial God has put in our way, let us overcome it with our shared strength.)
“♪~♪~♪”
(… I had the impression that Tatsumi-san was unusually struggling to concentrate…)
(But it must have been my own mistake. In fact, he seems even more energetic than he usually does.)
(Well, looking at Switch’s performance, I can understand him not being at his most relaxed.)
(Even back during our joint practice, I got the impression that Switch as a whole have incredible potential.)
(… At the same time, I don’t believe that ALKALOID is lagging behind.)
(Even if we have less experience as performers and haven’t been together as a unit for as long… the present ALKALOID knows what we have to do to captivate the audience.)
(The one who holds that key is you—Aira-san.)
(Since the time of the temporary unit Baikasekka… No, even before that, since Feather Touch, I’ve had that feeling about you.)
(All along, I’ve known that you have a weapon at your disposal that no one else has.)
(We are here to demonstrate that your love for idols can make all of us shine even brighter…!)
“♪~♪~♪”
(… What a strange sensatioN.)
(The show is advancing without issuE. Our performance should be even more polished now than it was when we practiceD.)
(I want to say we’ve got the venue in our grasP. At least, it doesn’t seem like ALKALOID is taking the leaD.)
(… That doesn’t mean we can let our guard dowN, even for a momenT.)
(Their movements appear more punctilious than they were beforE. Or ratheR, to be more precisE…)
(They seem much more conscientious of how they appear to the audiencE, and what impression they seek to make on theM.)
(… I suspect this was Aira-kun’s ideA. He and Hiiro-kun have enacted some sort of plaN.)
(That must be the reason why we haven’t monopolized as much of the audience’s attention as I had hopeD, and why we can’t take the lead in this shoW…)
(No, that’s not all there is to iT. There is something else about this performance that vexes mE.)
(What in the world are you thinkinG, Senpai?)
“♪~♪~♪”
(The minute change in positioninG, the modifications to the choreographY… They weren’t present in the rehearsaL, were theY?)
(Subtly disconcertinG… which makes it only likely to be noticed by someone like mE, having rehearsed alongside him up until noW…)
(… But he doesn’t appear to be unwelL, or he shouldn’t be able to dance with such precisioN.)
(That being the casE—Hmm.)
(With the difference being so slighT, there may be no need to press the issuE. He doesn’t seem to be surrendering the fighT.)
(It’s almost time for the assigned sonG. There is no time to question hiM.)
(I have to win this battle no matter whaT.)
(—For Natsume Sakasaki to be defeated in an earnest competition is just unthinkablE.)
(… Switch are just as amazing as always.)
(Between the effects captivating the audience and the choreography subconsciously guiding their gaze, their fans seem absolutely delighted.)
(To be blunt, we don’t hold a candle to their stage effects. Everyone in the venue is turning their attention to them.)
(… But that’s okay. We don’t have to beat them at their own game. Even if we tried, we wouldn’t get very far.)
(We have our own way of doing things.)
(After the first two rounds, I realized that my ideas were oriented towards the broadcast. This time, we’re gonna claim victory by making that our focus…!)
(Our choreography combines the unity and coordination that is ALKALOID’s strength with a more “combative” element to fit the assigned song.)
(Our staging came from me spending all my time outside of practice going through the live show DVDs I’ve collected over the years.)
(Then, with Mayo-san’s advice, we polished and finalized a performance that shows ALKALOID’s evolution…!)
(It’s the kind of performance that draws the camera to it subconsciously!)
(… I kinda feel like the camera is focusing on us a lot, but I don’t know if it’s just me!)
(Are we doing good!? What if our strategy isn’t panning out!?)
“♪~♪~♪”
(There’s nothing to worry about, Aira.)
(We trust in the strategy you’ve devised for us. That’s why Tatsumi-senpai and Mayoi-senpai agreed to it right away.)
(In my case, if I know what makes ALKALOID great, that means an idol fan like you must understand it even more profoundly.)
(I’m certain that no one among us knows how to make ALKALOID sparkle better than you do.)
(… You really do teach me everything there is to know.)
(I know I’ve frustrated you time and time again with my ignorance, and I’m sure there have been times when we couldn’t get through to each other.)
(But you were patient and stuck with me.)
(So, I’ve got to give back. I want to give you even more than I’ve received from you.)
(You believed ALKALOID had a chance, so I will meet your expectations.)
(Using your strategy, let’s show the world an even greater brilliance than you had imagined…!)
(? Hiro-kun’s…)
(No, not just him; Tattsun-senpai and Mayo-san too. Everyone’s movements are sharper than usual.)
(… Oh, I get it. They understood my strategy, and they’re putting their own spin on it to make it even stronger.)
(I’m so happy…)
(When I came up with this strategy, I thought it would make us shine brighter…)
(But they’re even more captivating than I had thought…)
(Is this okay? Should I really be seeing something so beautiful from this up close, closer than anyone?)
(Can I delude myself into thinking that maybe our group of former “underachievers”, who still have so much room for growth…)
(… Could one day make that fantastical future come true?)
“♪~♪~♪”
(…?)
(… This isn’t right…)
(Yeah, it’s different for sure. The stage effects weren’t like this when we rehearsed it!)
(ALKALOID isn’t just standing out thanks to our own abilities…! This is—)
Chapter 10
(What is the reason for thiS…?)
(The effects for the assigned song are differenT. More preciselY, the effects for ALKALOID are not the same as they were during rehearsalS.)
(What’s morE, their quality is so high that it’s comparable to our owN…)
(Did someone from ALKALOID speak to the stafF?)
(… No, these effects had to be designed with awareness of our owN. ALKALOID couldn’t have conceived them independentlY.)
(… For the effects to be changed just in time for the real performancE…)
(Only one person could have been capable of thiS.)
(What were you thinking…?)
(—Senpai!?)
(Sora is pretty sure these effects weren’t in our rehearsal~?)
(Could Senpai have asked this as a favor from the staff at the last moment? … Shisho~ didn’t tell Sora anything like that, though.)
(… It looks like that is what happened.)
(Sora can’t see anyone’s color right now. But… even then, that expression is enough to know…)
(… that Senpai did this on his own.)
(Shisho~ is flustered. He’s dancing normally right now, but the cracks might start showing any time.)
(If that happens, it might mess up the show… and we could even lose thanks to that.)
(So… why is Senpai smiling like that?)
(He looks like he’s enjoying himself, like he always does when it’s the three of us on stage…)
(Like always…?)
(Why would you do thiS, Senpai…?)
(With you meddling into ALKALOID’s effectS, the effort we put into designing ours to Switch stand out is pointlesS.)
(I thought we had polished the design of this performance for Switch to win by taking a lead rolE…!)
(… I seE. So that’s the source of the disconcertment I felt regarding Senpai… he adjusted his performance with ALKALOID in minD.)
(His strange positioninG, the slight change to the choreographY… they were in consideration of ALKALOID.)
(Senpai, whY…?)
(Were you lying when you said that you’d dedicate all your efforts to achieving victory for Switch…?)
(If you actually meant thaT, why does it look like you’re helping our enemY…?)
(By doing thiS, you might have handed some of our votes to ALKALOID.)
(The fans rooting for Switch will also be disappointeD…)
(… Will they bE?)
(Will our fans be bothered by ALKALOID being made more prominent by the stage effectS…?)
(The audience present is only trying to enjoy Switch and ALKALOID’s show.)
(No one will be upset by the overall quality of the show being higheR, will theY.)
(When… did I go wrong?)
(Not wanting to disappoint the fans rooting for us… striving to “cast a spell that would make them want to cheer for the US, and make them glad that they chose to do sO”.)
(SupposedlY, those were my own wisheS…)
(It looks like Natsume-kun and Sora-kun have already noticed.)
(But I don’t think what I did was wrong.)
(The assigned song comes together thanks to the combination of both units’ performance.)
(If we used effects that only highlighted Switch, it might end up looking unbalanced.)
(I don’t think that a show like that would stick with our fans.)
(That kind of show… shouldn’t be what Switch aims for.)
(Sora thinks he’s starting to get what Senpai is thinking…)
(… When Shisho~ got caught up in winning and suddenly changed… Didn’t he seem unhappy with that?)
(We are magicians that make people smile~ we never abandon anyone that’s crying or in trouble.)
(It wouldn’t be right for us to be that mean to our opponents.)
(For us who gather things that are scattered away to do something like that would be the worst…)
(As Switch, we cast spells to bring happiness to every living being in the world.)
(We’re prepared to face any hardships in order to achieve the ideal happy ending at last.)
(Hey, Natsume-kun. The wish the three of us shared… Switch was meant to be something like that, right?)
(Fierce ruthlessness is not our style. Creating smiles and delight is Switch’s principle, and our pride as magicians.)
(Putting smiles on people’s faces is what we do… I don’t care if it might be so idealistic or fantastical that we get ridiculed for it.)
(No matter how many times we are rejected or made fun of, I won’t give up.)
(The unit I christened on that day while thinking of you, Switch—)
(Switch’s essence is the one thing I will never give up.)
“♪~♪~♪”
(…! Sora-kun’s movements changed…)
(Sorry, Shisho~…)
(But Sora thinks this is better. This feels more like Switch’s way~♪)
(…Actually, you figured that out too, didn’t you?)
(—Ah, how pathetiC.)
(Without even realizing iT, I started pursuing victory only for Switch’s… No, for my own selfish goalS.)
(Switch isn’t supposed to be that sort of uniT, and yet I got Senpai and Sora involveD,)
(In my fixation with victorY, I lost sight of what makes us who we arE…)
(AnD, in my dedication to winninG, I stopped paying attention to the fans that came to see the shoW.)
(… Senpai hasn’t stopped aiming for victorY.)
(He must believe that we can win simply by performing as we usually dO.)
(Why does he have to act so uncharacteristicallY…)
(Senpai, Sora. Is there still timE…?)
(Do you think we can still satisfy the fans with our performancE?)
(… I don’t mean thaT, of coursE.)
(Even if it were impossiblE, we Switch are not magicians for nothinG. We will simply have to make it a reality regardlesS.)
(Ah, my intuition has finally returned to mE.)
(MM is an event for serious competitioN, but that doesn’t mean we have to compete in the same rinG.)
(Let’s honor the name of Switch and cast our magic of happiness onto the worlD!)
(Isn’t that righT, Senpai…?)